Gender Politics: The World's First Pregnant Man gives birth

Gender PoliticsThe World's First Pregnant Man gives birth

Veröffentlicht am 16.05.2008 | Lesedauer: 2 Minuten

Quelle: dpa-Zentralbild/Patrick Pleul

It's the story of sexual-identity and anatomical rarity that has captured America. Thomas Beatie revealed details of his pregnancy to gay and lesbian publication The Advocate back in April, causing a worldwide stir. On Thursday Thomas gave birth to a healthy baby girl. A source was quoted as saying "she's really cute, really pretty."

The Beatie pregnancy has been the centre of much discourse regarding gay rights and gender identity. Technically Beatie is the first person legally recognised as a man to have given birth. Criticism and mockery from conservative groups as well as applause from gay and human rights advocates have surrounded the Beaties since they publicly announced the pregnancy in April. Thomas is planning to write a book about the experience later in 2008.

"To our neighbors, my wife, Nancy and I don't appear in the least unusual. We are a happy couple deeply in love" wrote Beatie.

Thomas' wife Nancy's uterus was removed twenty years ago, leaving her unable to bear children. However Thomas maintains that to want to have a child is not a male or a female desire, but a human desire. It is for this reason that he made the decision to carry their child. That the pregnancy is possible at all is due to the fact that Thomas is transgender. Ten years ago Thomas decided to have his breasts removed and to take on the gender identity of a man. Although they have slightly altered due to bimonthly testosterone supplements, Thomas still has his original female genitalia, allowing him to be a natural mother. "I am transgender, legally male, and legally married to Nancy."

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Two years ago Thomas made the decision to stop taking his testosterone injections and prepared himself for artificial insemination so that he and his wife Nancy could have children together. The results of the first fertilisation proved life-threatening when Thomas became pregnant with triplets and the foetuses developed outside of his uterus. In emergency surgery, Thomas lost the triplets along with his right fallopian tube.

In his Advocate article Beatie continued to describe the legal, social and political grey areas that have been aggravated by the couple's extraordinary case. In his article, the US-American described the difficulties that he and his wife endured. A total of nine doctors were consulted regarding the couple's desire to have children. "Health care professionals have refused to call me by a male pronoun or recognize Nancy as my wife" said Beatie. Both Nancy and Thomas have lost many friends. Until recently most of Nancy's family had actually been unaware of Thomas' transsexuality.

Despite all of this, another fertilisation was possible, and according to the Advocate the newborn is 'healthy'.